Page 93 of Back to You

Brandon and Marcus stared at him. Brandon decided he was done and walked back into the kitchen.

He was measuring flour into the big mixer when Lake came into the kitchen with his coffee.

“So, big date tonight!” Lake said perkily.

“Uh huh.”

“Are you excited?”

“Yeah.”

Lake seemed flummoxed. “Are you sure?”

Brandon snorted. “Hang on, I’m counting scoops.”

“Oh! Sorry!”

He finished scooping the flour and turned to Lake. “Sorry, didn’t want to lose count. What were you asking me?”

“Just if you were excited about tonight.”

“Oh! Yeah, I really am. It had been such a long time before we had a date even before the break-up, I’ve almost forgotten how.”

“Don’t ask me, I have no clue. But I know you guys will have a great time. Where are you going?”

“You won’t tell Ethan?”

“No!”

“I’m taking him to that Italian restaurant where we had our first date.”

“Aww.”

Brandon shrugged.

“Yeah, well, it’s like another first date, so I figured, same place and all.”

“You get so uncomfortable when you show your sweet side, it’s hilarious.”

Brandon glared. “Did you want something?”

“No, just wanted to say hi and … please don’t hurt Ethan. I know you wouldn’t mean to, but he’s still vulnerable.”

“I promise you, Lake, hurting Ethan is the absolute last thing I want to do in this world.”

“Okay,” he said with his usual sunny smile. “Have fun tonight!”

***

Ethan began packing up to go home, excited about his date. He was still debating what to wear.

“Thompson! Can you get me the Anderson file?” Cartwright said as he barreled into the office.

“Here you go, sir.”

“Perfect, thanks. We’re having a prep meeting for Anderson down in conference room 5, come on.”

Ethan paused mid packing. He remembered so many nights like this. He remembered being torn between his job and being there for Brandon. And look what he’d lost? Himself.

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